BEIJING — In a move that caught many by surprise, U.S. President Donald Trump has recently linked the ongoing issue of fentanyl with his tariffs on Chinese imports, prompting China to launch a spirited rebuttal.
Initially, China issued a detailed report highlighting its efforts to control the illegal trade of fentanyl, focusing on the ingredients manufactured within its borders that contribute to the opioid crisis. The Chinese foreign minister swiftly criticized the U.S. for what he perceived as a hostile economic gesture, and just last week, Chinese officials expressed their displeasure during a rare briefing with journalists.
In an annual media appearance, Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated, “In the spirit of humanity, China has aided the U.S. in several ways. The U.S. should not meet goodwill with hostility or impose unjust tariffs. Such actions are unbecoming of a responsible major nation.”
Trump asserted that the fentanyl issue justified his decision to impose a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports, escalating it to 20% shortly thereafter. He has also cited fentanyl concerns among reasons for similar measures against Canada and Mexico.
In his executive order regarding the initial tariff, Trump accused China of supporting chemical companies involved in exporting fentanyl and associated “precursor chemicals,” while simultaneously offering refuge to criminal organizations partaking in the lucrative opioid market.
While it’s not uncommon for the Chinese government to provide subsidies to various industries, many of the precursor chemicals in question are also utilized to produce legal painkillers. Yet, some production lines establish supply routes to Mexican drug cartels, eventually bringing fentanyl into the United States.
The statement issued noted attempts made by the U.S. to resolve the crisis at its origins through bilateral dialogue but criticized the PRC’s, referring to China’s official name, lack of decisive action to curb the flow of these chemicals to illicit entities.
China retaliated against Trump’s tariffs with its own set of duties on selected U.S. goods along with other strategic measures aimed at American businesses. Analysts see this response as measured, attempting to prevent further escalation in a trade war that could adversely impact China’s already sluggish economy.
A report by the Chinese government underscored multiple high-level meetings since last year aimed at fostering collaboration on fentanyl issues, highlighting ongoing cooperation between its Narcotics Control Bureau and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
“As a nation, China is devoted to cooperation,” the report proclaimed, “yet it clearly opposes the U.S. imposing unlawful sanctions and excessive pressure under the pretense of countering fentanyl-related concerns.”
In the earlier years under the presidency of Joe Biden, efforts on fentanyl cooperation were reinvigorated in early 2024 after being hampered by geopolitical challenges in 2022. One such event involved a visit by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, which provoked China to terminate talks on numerous topics including narcotics control.
A resolution reached by late 2023 paved the way for a meeting in January of the preceding year focusing on fentanyl, signifying drug enforcement and climate change as areas where political rivalry could be set aside for bilateral cooperation.
Now back in office after a four-year intermission, President Trump is attempting to recalibrate the balance of U.S.-China relations. But, if current indications by China are anything to go by, the country is unlikely to concede easily.
“We are prepared to contest to the end if the American side continues down this detrimental path,” Commerce Minister Wang Wentao declared last week.
